Airbus pioneers new higher apprenticeship qualification
Young engineers at Airbus UK have
become the first in the UK to complete a higher apprenticeship
programme. Sir Alan Jones, chairman of Semta, visited Airbus UK’s
Broughton site to present Higher Apprenticeship in Engineering
Technology certificates to 18 apprentices.
Airbus pioneered the prototype Higher Apprenticeship in
Engineering Technology in 2001 when it approached Semta to develop
a bespoke programme to meet the company’s needs for engineers with
skills and knowledge over and above the outcomes of the standard
national modern apprenticeship programme. The company began
implementing the programme in 2002.
Semta established an employer-led higher apprenticeship steering
committee in 2003 to develop the Airbus model into a national
programme that would attract government funding and recognition
from the Institution of Engineering and Technology (formerly the
Institution of Incorporated Engineers).
The Higher Apprenticeship in Engineering Technology was
developed by the steering committee as a national programme and
launched as a pilot in 2005 with funding in England from the
Department for Education and Skills, Learning and Skills Council
and Higher Education Funding Council for England and in Wales from
the Welsh Assembly Government, Department for Education, Lifelong
Learning and Skills, and Higher Education Funding Council for
Wales.
Airbus’s programme at Broughton is managed and delivered by a
partnership of Deeside College, North East Wales Institute of
Higher Education (NEWI) and the Airbus training department. During
their first year the apprentices gained a BTEC National Certificate
in Aero-engineering (Mechanical), along with five Key Skills at
Level 3 (Communication, Application of Number, IT, Working With
Others, Improving Own Learning and Performance), Employment Rights
and Responsibilities and an Institute of Leadership and Management
qualification at Level 3. They went on to develop their skills and
experience at Airbus, gaining an EAL Level 4 NVQ in Engineering
Manufacture, and completed the new foundation degree in
Aeronautical Engineering (Manufacture) through day release. Now -
another UK first - the apprentices have progressed to the third
year of a full honours degree in Aeronautical Engineering.
Sir Alan Jones said: “I am delighted to be presenting these
certificates to the very first young engineers in the UK to have
achieved the Higher Apprenticeship in Engineering Technology award,
and congratulate both these engineers themselves and all those
involved in delivering such a high quality, valuable programme.
“The Higher Apprenticeship in Engineering Technology has been
spearheaded by Airbus and each recipient should be proud of the
fact that they have been part of this pioneering group. They have
created an excellent model, which, I am pleased to say, has now
been developed for use by other engineering employers. For all of
us in the engineering and manufacturing industry, it is vital that
we develop higher level skills and knowledge, and programmes such
as this are a key competitive way forward.”
Gary Griffiths, Manager of Apprenticeship Programmes at Airbus
UK, said: “I am extremely proud of the achievements of these young
professional engineers. Throughout their apprenticeship they have
also been heavily involved in other enrichment activities,
including our Intercultural Competency programme and the Apprentice
Innovation Charity Challenge. This is an extremely intense and
demanding programme, which has been made possible by the enthusiasm
and commitment of the apprentices. I would also like to give my
personal thanks to my team of training advisors who have worked in
collaboration with our partners in Semta, NEWI and Deeside College.
It is their professionalism and dedication that have enabled this
programme to become the success it is today."
Ends
Pioneering achievement: From left to right (standing) Airbus UK
Higher Engineering Technology Apprentices Ben Walters, Tim Barber,
Daniel Stores, Dan Parry; Hastings McKenzie, NEWI; David Jones,
Deeside College. Kneeling in the foreground, Sir Alan Jones,
Chairman of Semta and Chairman Emeritus of Toyota; Higher
Engineering Technology Apprentice Chris Williams; Phil Swash, Plant
Manager, Airbus UK, Broughton.
Media contacts:
Semta: Elaine Essery, tel: 01229 716129; email: Elaine Essery
Airbus UK: Pam Kingsley-Williams, tel: 01244 522804; email:
Pamela
Kingsley-Williams
Note to editors:
As a Sector Skills Council licensed by government, Semta is the
employer-led organisation at the heart of the skills agenda for
Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies in the UK. The
sectors we represent are: Aerospace, Automotive, Bioscience,
Electrical, Electronics, Engineered Metal Products, Maintenance,
Marine, Mathematics, Mechanical and Metals. Our role is to raise
skills levels and competitiveness in the 75,000 businesses and
2million-strong workforce that make up these sectors.